Written by: The Midland Certified Reagent Company
MB’s play a vital role in molecular research.
A molecular beacon probe is a fluorophore short synthetic DNA that takes on the shape of a stem-loop. Its use has transcended the world of molecular research and has become an accepted tool for nucleic acid analysis. In a molecular setting, these probes have triggered multiple developments that have given researchers and scientists more tools in the field.
The success of both molecular beacon probes and dual-labeled probes are due largely in part to their ability to detect both specific DNA and RNA sequences upon the completion of hybridization without any requirements to take out or wash the unbound probe.
Additionally, these probes are also responsible for acting like a fluorescent label in that it is responsible for the low fluorescent background as well as the selectivity. If the analyte is removed from the equation, the signal is reduced in the background – the signal is generated in a reversible type manner.
Design
The design of a molecular beacon probe, as stated before, is similar to a hairpin-type structure. The stem-loop is a folded oligo DNA with a fluorophore and the conjugation of quencher dyes. When there is no complementary analyte within the sequence, the fluorescence will be closely located to the quencher dye. In addition to this, the formation of the probes will separate the fluorophore from the quencher, which will end up brightening the molecular beacon probe.
Features
Some of the most important features of molecular beacon probes include the generation of the fluorescent signal, the constraint in the form of a stem loop, and the binding to the analyte. All of these features play a significant role in the accurate location of fluorescent labels.